HMC 2015 Membership – important information

Dear HMC members

HMC Membership for 2015

We hope that you have had an excellent year of adventures over 2014 and are looking forward to 2015. As of the 1st if January, your HMC subscription will be due in order to continue your existing membership of the club. Following review of the BMC subscriptions and the HMC accounts, the committee has taken the decision to raise membership fees for 2015.

The HMC membership fee from the start of 2015 will be £22. The new membership fee covers the increased BMC subscription fees and will also help the club to maintain a healthy financial position to continue to support future events.

If you are renewing your membership for 2015, fees can be made by:

– e-bank transfer to the HMC account – please notify the treasurer by email
– sending a cheque made payable to the Hertfordshire Mountaineering Club (not HMC) to the treasurer or secretary.
– cash given to committee members at the pub socials.

Please note that if any of your contact or address details have changed over the last 12 months, please complete a HMC membership form providing your new details and send it to the Secretary together with your membership fee. Membership forms can be downloaded from here http://www.thehmc.co.uk/membership/

A window of three months is open to renew your membership until 31 March to coincide with the HMC’s requirement to update subscription fees to the BMC each Quarter.

As a demonstration of support for our mountain rescue services in 2015, the HMC is offering the option to make an additional discretionary contribution of £3 as part of the membership renewal which will be given to a nominated mountain rescue charity. The contribution will be entirely optional. If you wish to make a contribution please add £3 to your membership fee.

We look forward to seeing you all return for another great year of adventure in the mountains.

All the best

Steve Deaville
HMC Secretary

HMC – December Update

Dear HMC Members

Christmas Dinner Weekend – Eyam YHA – Friday 12 December

Our annual Christmas meal in December is fast approaching so now is the time to make sure you’ve got your place and have submitted your meal options to outdoormeets@thehmc.co.uk. There are few places left so make sure you book on today.

This year the HMC have booked a weekend at the historic, medieval inspired YHA in the village of Eyam. This captivating Victorian folly resembles a tiny turreted castle perched on the hillside overlooking historic Eyam.

On Saturday night, the YHA will be hosting a four course Christmas meal with cheese which is all included in the price of the trip. Please see the menu below for meal options.

The YHA would like us to confirm the meal options asap. If you are booked onto the event please could you email outdoormeets@thehmc.co.uk with your preferred options or post a message on the event message board.

If you are not yet booked and wish to attend please ensure that you book your place quickly to avoid dissapointment at this popular annual event.

The accommodation is a fully licensed hostel. There is plenty to do in including climbing, walking & biking in the area. The Price includes 2 nights accommodation, 2 breakfasts and Saturday nights Xmas Dinner- which is always a jolly affair not to be missed so book now to guarantee your place!

All members are invited to an inpromptu gathering at the Boot Inn, St Albans on 19 December to help celebrate the festive season. Feel free to come down from 7:30pm and share in the banter and good company of fellow members.

Castleton YHA – Hope Valley Peaks – Friday 30 January 2015

Our first organised event for 2015 will be set in the Peak District National Park’s Hope Valley. We have two nights booked at the YHA Losehill Hall in Castelton which is a fabulous Victorian Gothin Mansion with cobbled mews and formal gardens set in and around 27 acres of national park land.

Plenty of walking, climbing and biking in the area. Hostel booking includes 2 breakfasts and Saturday night meal waiting for you when you come in from a cold day. Hostel is licensed, but is also in walking distance of plenty of pubs.